Press Releases

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Communications market research firm Infonetics Research (www.twitter.com/infonetics) on Friday released its Diameter Signaling Control Worldwide and Regional Market Size and Forecasts report, its first in-depth analysis of the emerging Diameter signaling market.

The report contends that the Diameter protocol, which was developed as the next-generation signaling protocol for operator networks, is in the early stages of being utilized, and that Diameter traffic continues to grow steadily as more subscribers run over all IP-based mobile networks (i.e., LTE and IMS). Network operators have just begun to recognize the scaling challenges associated with this buildup of Diameter traffic and the impact on their networks.

ANALYST NOTE

“Diameter traffic in the signaling and control plane of all-IP based networks is guaranteed to continue to increase, forcing operators to utilize Diameter signaling controllers to more efficiently manage and scale that traffic,” affirms Diane Myers, directing analyst for VoIP and IMS at Infonetics Research. “The key drivers behind the increase in signaling traffic is the fast-escalating use of mobile broadband networks, new devices and smartphones (from high-end Apple iPhones to less expensive Huawei devices and everything in between), and mobile applications, particularly gaming and social networking apps like Facebook that are in constant use or always on. Even battery-saving gadgets can spur signaling each time they reactivate a mobile phone, adding to Diameter signaling traffic congestion.”

Myers adds, “As LTE networks expand, driving even more traffic to the network, the Diameter signaling controller market will take off rapidly: we forecast a 106% compound annual growth rate in vendor revenue through 2016, in line with global growth in LTE networks and LTE subscribers.”

DIAMETER SIGNALING CONTROL MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

• Several high-profile network outages have exposed weaknesses in Diameter signaling and proved how debilitating excessive signaling traffic could be to operator networks, including Verizon Wireless’ LTE network crash in early 2011, Telenor’s 18-hour LTE network outage that prevented calls from connecting and text messages from being delivered, and NTT DoCoMo’s outage in January 2012 that was attributed to Android devices, which load the network with control signals even when users are inactive
• In 2011 a new category of products, which Infonetics classifies as Diameter signaling controllers, was introduced to alleviate Diameter traffic congestion and allow the signaling and control plane within networks to efficiently scale
• There are a number of vendors jockeying to play a role in Diameter signaling control, and Tekelec has an early lead in this nascent market (specific vendor market share standings will be provided in future editions of Infonetics’ report)
• Infonetics expects at least 15 vendors to have diameter signaling controllers by the end of 2012, when market leadership will begin to take shape
• Today the majority of Diameter signaling controller revenue comes from North America, due in large part to leading LTE network deployments; however, there is growing activity in Asia Pacific and EMEA as LTE continues to expand in those regions

REPORT SYNOPSIS

Infonetics' new Diameter signaling report provides worldwide and regional market size and forecasts through 2016 of manufacturer revenue and transactions-per-second licenses for Diameter signaling controllers, which provide centralized routing, traffic management, and load-balancing between Diameter and non-Diameter elements within IMS and mobile broadband networks. The accompanying Diameter signaling control analysis report includes market top takeaways, market trends and drivers, an overview of Diameter signaling, use cases, forecast notes, regional trends, and vendor activity. Diameter signaling control vendors tracked: Acme Packet, Alcatel-Lucent, Alepo, Amdocs, Aricent, Comptel, F5 Networks, Intellinet, Openet, Tekelec, Traffix, and others. Regions tracked: North America, Asia Pacific, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), and Central and Latin America.

RELATED RESEARCH AND EVENTS

• Latest Infonetics VoIP and IMS research newsletter: http://bit.ly/wnDGO5
• WEBINAR: Year of the Lync - Migration to Microsoft Lync Voice Solutions: http://bit.ly/xRSsDt
• 15 million Rich Communication Suite (RCS) subscribers by 2013
• IMS equipment market on track for 50% growth in 2011
• Carrier VoIP market down 12% in 3Q11; Huawei, GENBAND lead
• Operators name Acme Packet top SBC vendor; SIP trunking, interconnection driving SBCs
• Telecom capex up 6% to $311B in 2011, rev. up 8% to $1.86T, driven by mobile broadband
• Mobile VoIP subscribers will near 410 million by 2015; VoLTE still a long way off
• Infonetics ups 2015 VoIP service forecast to $76B, driven by SIP trunking, hosted business VoIP

UPCOMING VOIP AND IMS MARKET RESEARCH

Download prospectuses, tables of contents, highlights, etc. at http://www.infonetics.com/login (see SERVICE PROVIDER VOIP AND IMS for 2011 and new 2012 services).

• Log in to download Infonetics’ 2012 Research Publication Calendar: http://bit.ly/zwjcRs
• 4Q11 Service Provider and IMS Equipment and Subscribers Market Share and Forecast
• North America Business VoIP Service Leadership Scorecard
• SIP Trunking Strategies: North American Enterprise Survey
• VoIP and UC Services and Subscribers Market Share and Forecast

SALES

• Larry Howard, VP, Western NA, Asia, CALA: larry@infonetics.com, +1-408-583-3335
• Scott Coyne, Eastern NA, Texas, Midwest: scott@infonetics.com, +1-408-583-3395
• George Stojsavljevic, EMEA: george@infonetics.com, +44-755-488-1623
• Japan, Taiwan, Korea: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp

Infonetics Research is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete more effectively.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50162116&lang=en

Lead Analyst:Infonetics ResearchDiane Myers, +1-408-583-3391Directing Analyst, VoIP and IMSdiane@infonetics.comhttp://twitter.com/dianemyers

Source: Infonetics Research

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF) today announced an update to its previously announced conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2011 results. The company now plans to host the conference call to discuss these results at 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 16, 2012. The results will be released after the market closes on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

Investors can access the call by dialing 800-299-0148 or 617-801-9711. The passcode is 14590047. The conference call also will be available live on the company’s website at www.cfindustries.com. Participants also may pre-register for the webcast on the company’s website. Please log-in or dial-in at least 10 minutes prior to the start time to ensure a connection. A replay of the call will be available for seven days by calling 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 and citing code 39118305.

About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a global leader in nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer manufacturing and distribution, serving both agricultural and industrial customers. CF Industries, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, operates world-class nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing complexes in the central United States and Canada; conducts phosphate mining and manufacturing operations in Central Florida; and distributes plant nutrients through a system of terminals, warehouses, and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the Midwestern United States. The company also owns 50 percent interests in GrowHow UK Limited, a fertilizer manufacturer in the United Kingdom; an ammonia facility in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; and KEYTRADE AG, a global fertilizer trading organization headquartered near Zurich, Switzerland. CF Industries routinely posts investor announcements and additional information on the company’s Web site at www.cfindustries.com and encourages those interested in the company to check there frequently.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.Terry HuchSenior Director, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications847-405-2515 – thuch@cfindustries.comorSusan FisherManager, Corporate Communications847-405-2551 – sfisher@cfindustries.com

Source: CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best Co. recognizes that changes in the economic environment can significantly affect insurers’ underwriting income, investment income, capital gains, asset values and, consequently, surplus. A.M. Best’s ratings process incorporates an analysis of economic factors as one of the sources of risk to an organization’s financial health; compares individual insurance companies’ operating performance with industry composite benchmarks that are adjusted from time to time for systemic changes in economic conditions (among others); and evaluates companies’ financial risks, including the exposure of their investments, assets and underwriting to adverse economic conditions.

This special report presents A.M. Best’s outlook for the U.S. economic environment in which insurers will be operating in 2012 and 2013, which will serve as the basis for the analysis of economic factors used in its ratings process.

• GDP growth is expected to remain modest in 2012 and 2013, at 2.3% and 2.9%, respectively.
• While still high, unemployment is expected to continue its slow slide from its peak.
• Inflation is expected to moderate to 2.0% in 2012, then increase slightly to 2.3% in 2013 on the heels of a pick-up in economic activity.
• Several downside risks to the outlook exist, especially contagion from the eurozone sovereign debt crisis and domestic policy uncertainty.
• Interest rates are expected to remain extremely low over the next two years.

• Markets likely will remain volatile into 2012, corresponding with the ongoing turbulence in the eurozone and its sovereign debt crisis.

To access a complimentary copy of this report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/bestweekreports.asp?rt=ir.

A video interview with the authors summarizing key points in the report is available at http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=economy212.

Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2012 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A.M. Best Co.James Gillard, 908-439-2200, ext. 5818james.gillard@ambest.comorNancy Snyder, 908-439-2200, ext. 5446nancy.snyder@ambest.comorRachelle Morrow, 908-439-2200, ext. 5378Senior Manager, Public Relationsrachelle.morrow@ambest.comorJim Peavy, 908-439-2200, ext. 5644Assistant Vice President, Public Relationsjames.peavy@ambest.com

Source: A.M. Best Co.